SACOMM mourns the passing of one of its founder members, Prof Arnold S. (Arrie) de Beer. Prof De Beer was part of the organisation from its inception, as one of the participants at a meeting in 1974 at UNISA where the forming of a new communication association was discussed, and helped draw up the first constitution of the organisation in 1977. De Beer was awarded an Honorary Membership by SACOMM in recognition of his important historical role in the organisation. De Beer was also the founding editor of the journal Ecquid Novi (later renamed African Journalism Studies), one of SACOMM’s affiliated journals. SACOMM pays tribute to a stalwart of the South African communications studies landscape and extends our condolences to his friends and family.
